Awning.



AwNlNG.

PatentedMar.13,1917. v

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 3| 1916.

wrLLrni/r n. wetens', Jn., or clarence, ILLINOIS.

AWNING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed April 3, 1916. Serial No. 88,532.

To allwhom t may concern:

Be it known that l, VViLLiAM H. WALGER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Awnings, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to that class of awnings having .an awning body or curtain formed of flexible material and adapted to be rolled and unrolled, and provided with awning-extending arms and guiding' and brace mechanism adapted to hold the lower portion of the awning body in extended position and to guide the awning body during the operation of rolling and unrolling the same.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and ei'iicient awning.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved awning comprising an awning body or curtain member having awninge-tending arms or frame members adapted to hold the lowerportion of the awning body in extended or operative position, with bracing and guiding mechanism adapted to guide the awning during the operation of rolling and unrolling the same, and to permit or enable the awning body to be lowered and extended and rigidly braced, secured or held in extended position, with facility and in an efficient manner.

@ther and further objects of the invention will appear from an examination of the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the acconnianyiug drawings, which are made a part of this specilication.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, details of construction, mechanism, and parts herein described and claimed. Y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an awning constructed in accordance with my invention and improvements;

Fig. 2, a view in front elevation of the awning shown in Fig. l, with the flexible awning body rolled up or in raised position, and with the awning-extending arms or frame members and upwardly and downwardly movable bracing and guiding mechanism in raised position;

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail plan view showing an awning-extending arm and bracing and guiding mechanism, with parts broken connecting member adapted to engage an upright guiding rod, for guiding the parts; and V Fig. 5, an enlarged detail view in transverse section taken on line 5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. and showing the slidable member or bracesupporting and guiding means with which the downwardly extending brace is pivotally connected on each -side of thev awning, respectively, and the means for securing the same in rigid relation to the corresponding upright guiding member or rod.

Fig. 6, an enlarged detail view, partly in section, showing the connected telescoping ends of the bottom tubular member or awning rod, and the awning-extending arm, and spring.

ln constructing an awning in accordance with my invention and improvements, I provide iiexible awning body l which is made of fabric, such as canvas, or of similar or other suitable material, and one end of which is, by preference, connected with a supporting and operating roller 2 which is rotativoly supported upon suitable supports such as brackets 3 and t provided with suitable notches or apertures in which the journal portions or axles 5 and 6 of the roller are rotatively mounted.

Suitable operating means is provided for operating the roller to raise and lower or roll and unroll the curtain or awning body, and which roller-'operatingv means may be of any desired ordinary, well known, or suitable form adapted to enable the curtain or awning body andthe upwardly and downwardly movable bracing and guiding mechanisn'i to be operated, raised and. lowered, and secured in operative position with facility and in an eilicient manner.

Theroller-operating mechanism shown in the drawings, and which is found to be satisfactory in practice, comprises a reel or pulley 7 secured to one end of the roller 2, and adapted to rotate with the roller, and

ico

provided with an operating cord or flexible element 8, one end of which is connected with the reel in such a manner as to'permit the cord to be wound onto the reel when the awning body or curtain is unrolled or lowered, and to be unwound by the operator in the operation of rolling up or raising the awning body or curtain by rotating the roller. A. hook member 9, or similar securing means is provided for securing the cord in position to prevent or limit the downward movement of the curtain or awning body, and keeping the same stretched er taut, when desired.

Upright guiding members 10, which are by preference in the form of. upright rods, are mounted adjacent to the opposite side Y margins of the curtain or flexible awning portions 14 and 15 body, and in parallel relation to each other. One end portion-for instance the lower enddof each stationary guiding member or` rod 10 is supported or secured in operative position by means of a bracket 11; and the opposite vend of each of said reds is bent to form an angular or offset end portion 1.2 adapted to be secured to a suitable support such as a .window frame, so that the main body portion of each guiding` rod is a sufficient distance from the .window frame or support to permit the parts which are slidably 'mounted on the rods to be moved up or down on the rods, as desired. Y

Slidably mounted on each upright guiding rod 10 is a sliding frame or supporting member having an upper perforated end portion 1d and a lower perforated end portion 15 encircling and in slidable engagement with the corresponding er adjacent upright rod 10. The upper and lower end are, by preference, integral with the upright main body portion of the slide member' of which they form a part, and extend horizontally or at right angles to such main body or vertical portion 16, which is by preference in the form of a flat strip of metal spaced apart from and in parallel relation to the upright rod. An awning frame is provided, which comprises in its construction a pair of awning-extending arms 17 the outer end portions of which are connected with the lower portion or extremity of the curtain or awning body 1 at the opposite side margins thereof in any desired ordinary or well known suitable manner, and the inner extremities of which awning-extending arms are pivotally connected with the upright body portion 1G of the slides or supporting members 13, respec-V tively, by means of pivots 18. The outer ends 19 of the awning-extending arms 17 are connected with the awning body, preferably, by being bent so as to extend transversely with respect to the awning body and in the direction of the corresponding angular end of the opposite awning-extending arm, a transverse bottom awning rod or tube 2O .attached to the awning body being secured at its opposite ends to the end portions 19 of the awning-extending arms, and forming a connection between said arms, and between the curtain and said arms. The angular end portion or member 19 of each awning arm is, by preference hollow and inserted into the adjacent end of the hollow tube or member 20; and an angular spring 9,1 is mounted in position to extend into the hollow portions of both the tube 20 and the angular hollow member or part 19 of theawning-extending arms at each end of the hollow tube respectively, so as to frictionally enga-ge and press outward against the inner walls of said hollow members and removably secure them together and. in operative position. The parts 19 and Q0 may overlap or telescope to any desired extent, thus enabling the awning frame to be extended or adjusted to lit windows of various sizes, and curtains or awning bodies of various widths.

Each awning-extending arm 17 is thus adapted to swing on its axis or pivot l1S downward to horizontal position, for holding the lower portion of the awningbody or curtain extended, or upward toward the corresponding guiding rod 10 to approximately upright position, and to be moved upward and downward longitudinally of the upright guiding rod to the lowermost extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, to the uppermost raised or upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, or to any desired intermediate raised or extended position at any desired point along the guiding rodv orbetween said uppermost and lowermost positions.

A pivoted brace 22 is pivotally connected with at least one of the awning-extending arms 17 by means of a connecting pivot, or guiding member and pivot 1 prefer to employ one brace 22 for each awning-extending arm, as greater rigidity is obtainable-by having one such brace on each side of the awning body than by having only one such brace. Each brace 22 is pivotally connected with a guiding member or sleeve 2l. which is slidably mounted in engagement with the corresponding upright guiding member or rod 10 or the upright portion of lie upwardly and downwardly movable supporting member 13 on such rod 10. I prefer to mount each sleeve or guiding and securing member 2d upon and in slidable engagement with a rod 10 and in position to engage and move upward and downwardV with respect to the upright side face of the adjacent body portion 1G of the corresponding slidable member 13, rather than to mount the member id directly upon the member 13, for the reason that by so doing the member 24 is adapted to be secured in rigid relationto the rod 10 encircled thereby, and in any desiredk one of a multiplicity of adjusted positions, and to thus afford a simple and etiicient means for guiding the inner pivoted end of the corresponding brace 22, during the operation of raising or lowering the awning, and for securing the brace and thereby the awning-extending arms and awning frame rigidly in any desired raised, lowered, extended or approximately upright or any intermediate adjusted position. A securing screw 25 in the form of a threaded thumb screw in threaded engagement with the upwardly and downwardly slidable or adjustable sleeve member 24, and extending through a suitable transverse aperture in the inner end of the corresponding brace 22 forms a pivotal connection between such Vbrace and sleeve member, and is adapted to be screwed into and out of securing engagement with the rod 10 in the manner of a set screw. The head of the screw is .adapted to engage the brace 22 and hold it in place upon the pivot thus formed, and to pressthe brace firmly into engagement with the sleeve member. Each brace 22 is by preference located on the inner side of the guiding rod 10' and of the awning-extending arm 17 with which `it is operatively connected; and the lower end of each brace 22 is also, by preference, on the opposite side of the rod 10 from that on which the pivoted end of the corresponding awning-extending arm 17 is located, and is movable with its sleeve 24 upward and downward with respect to the corresponding slide member 13 and guiding rod 10. By connecting each brace 22 at its upper or outer end with the corresponding' awningextending arm and mounting the corresponding sliding' sleeve 24 below the pivoted end of such awning-extending arm, so that the braces 22 each extenddownward and inwardat an incline from the point of pivotal connection with the awning-extending arm and are pivotally connected with the slidable sleeves 24 below the pivoted end of the awning extending arms, respectively, and preferably with the sleeve 24- above a rod-engaging member or stop 15 adapted to engage and limit the downward movement of such sleeve 24, and with the awning-extending arms 17 or the concave surface portion or grooved portion 26 of the connecting pivot and guiding member 23 in position to engage the corresponding rod 10 when the awning-extending arms 17 are in raised position, the curtain or awning body is guided and kept straight and prevented from becoming twisted or wrinkled during the operation of raising or of rolling and unrolling the curtainl or awning body. The awning frame, including the awning-extending arms, is irmly braced and held against transverse movement not only during the operation of raising and lowering the awning, but also when the awning is in lowered extended position,

or in extended position at any point intermediate uppermost raised position or lowermost extended position. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The braces 22 are adapted to tend to press or move the awning-extending arms outward from the approxima ely upright position toward lowered 4extended position when the awning body and frame are lowered; and the awning-extending arms are braced and lirmlv held against transverse movement, and the awning frame and curtain are prevented froin swinging transversely and firmly held in extended operative position, or in any desired adjusted position even when the thumb screws 25 are not tightened so as to engagevthe rods 10. l/Vhen the screws 25 are so tightened the awning is strongly braced and held in operative lposition which it is adapted to assume without the necessity of adjusting the parts otherwise than by means of the operating cord, which may be operated from either the inside or the outside of the house. By tightening the operating cord 8, after first tightening thescrews in any desired position longitudinally of the rods 10 the curtain is tightened or stretched so as to have a very neat appearance and prevent flapping. With the cord secured, for instance, by means of the hook 9, the cord tendsto prevent the unrolling and limit the downward movement of the awning body, and the upward movement of the awning body is prevented by the braces and securing means which are in conveniently accessible position.

The awning shown in the drawings is provided with a telescoping retaining device 27 comprising telescoping tubular members 28 and 29 mounted upon suitable supports such as hooks or brackets 30 located on opposite sides of the curtain or adjacent to the opposite side margins of the curtain or awning body, and adapted to retain the iiexible awning body, when lowered, in such position that the upper portion o1 the awning body above said retaining device is in approximately upright position, and the part below said retaining device is in the desired inclined position, and the awning body and braces and guiding mechanism are adapted to be raised and lowered with facility. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

The tubular members 29 are by preference hollow and adapted to extend into and tit snugly in engagement with the opposite ends of the tubular member 28; and retailiing springs which may be of identical construction with the spring 21, are mounted in position to extend into and connect the adjacent overlapping or telescoping ends of the members 28 and 29. The awning-extending arms and the bracing and guiding mechanism therefor, are adapted to be used in connection with a curtain or flexible awning body, either with or without a retaining deist vice such as or similar to the device 27 eX- tending transversely across and in engagement with the awning body.

I claim:

l. ln an awning the combination of a flexible awning body, means for raising and lowering the awning body, upright guides mounted adjacent to the opposite side margins of the awning body, awning-extending arms connected with the lower portion of the awning body and having their inner ends pivotally supported and operatively connected with and movable upward and downward with respect to the upright guides, a brace supporting member slidably mounted on an upright guide below the pivoted end of an awning-extending arm, and a brace pivotally connected with said awning-extending arm and having its lower end pivotally connected with said brace supporting member below and movable upward and downward with respect to the pivoted end of such awning-extending arm.

2. ln an awning the combination oi1 a Aflexible awning body, means for raising and lowering the awning body, upright guides mounted adjacent to the opposite side margins of the awning body, awning-extending arms connected with the lower portion of the awning body and having their inner ends pivotally supported and operatively connected'with and movable upward and downward with respect to the upright guides, a brace supporting sleeve slidably mounted and movable upward and downward upon one ot said stationary upright guides below the pivoted end of an adjacent awning-extending arm, a brace pivotally connected with said awning-extending arm and havingkits lower end pivotally connected with said slidable brace-supporting sleeve, and means for securing said sleeve andthe lower end of said brace in fixed relation to the pivoted end oic said awning-extending arm.

3. ln an awning the combination of a. ilexible awning body, means for raising and lowering' the awning` body, stationary upright guides mounted adjacent to the opposite side margins of the awning body, awning-extending arms connected with the lower portion ot the awning body and having their inner ends pivotally supported and adapted to be moved upward and downward with respect to the upri'ht guides, a brace supporting member slidanly mounted on each of said upright guides below the pivoted end of the corresponding awning-extending arm, land braces five cent Washing each connected with an awning-extending" arm, each of said braces having its lower end pivotally connected with one of said slidable brace-supporting members, below the pivoted end of such awning-supporting arm.

li. in an awning the combination of a ilexible awning body, means for raising and lowering the awning body, stationary upright guides mounted adjacent to the opposite side margins of the awning body, awning-extending arms connected with the lower portion oi' the awning body, upwardly and downwardly movable arm-supports slidably mounted on the stationary upright guides, means 'for pivotally connecting the inner end oi' each oil said awning-extending arn'is with V a corresponding` upwardly and downwardly movable arm support, a brace-supporting member slidably mounted upon a stationary guide and below the pivoted end of an adjacent awning-extending arm and movable upward and downward with respect to the pivoted end of said arm, and a brace pivotally connected with said awning-extending arm and having its lower end pivotally connected with said slidable brace-supporting member and movable upwardly and down-v wardly with the same. 85

ln an awning the Vcombination of a {iexible awning body, means tor raising and lowering the awning body, stationary up right guides mounted adjacent to the opposite side margins of the awning body, awningextending arms connected with the lower portion vof the awning body and movable upward and downward therewith, upwardly and downwardly movable arm-supporting members slidably mounted on the stationary guides and having pivotal connection with the inner 'ends of the awning-extending arms, a brace-supporting sleeve slidably mounted on an upright guide below andY movable upward and spcct to the pivoted end of the corresponding awnii'ig-extending arm, a brace pivotally connected at its lower end with said sleeve, and a connecting' member forming pivotal connection between the opposite end said brace and said awning-extending arm Y and movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent upright guide.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, April 1, 1916.

VVILLAM H. WALGER, Jn.

, AWitnesses:

HARRY IRWIN Cnoimn, v lV. HARDING.

s eachgby addressing the Commissioner of Patents, ton, D. C.

downward with re- 

